Surgical Anatomy of Transversus Abdominis Muscle for Transversus Abdominis Release: A CT-Based Study in Three Patient Groups.

BACKGROUND: The anatomy of the transversus abdominis muscle and its aponeurosis is important in transversus abdominis release surgery. We studied the CT anatomy of the transversus abdominis muscle medial to the linea semilunaris at different levels in the abdomen and measured the thickness of this muscle. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we analysed 150 abdominal computed tomography at L1, L3, and L5 vertebral levels corresponding to subxiphoid, umbilical, and suprapubic regions, respectively. The patients were divided into three groups based on age and sex: women aged 15-20 years (nulliparous), women aged 30-60 years (multiparous), and men aged 15-60 years, with each group having 50 patients. We compared the thickness of the TA muscle at the L1 level between men and women and between nulliparous and multiparous women. RESULTS: Transversus abdominis muscle was consistently present medial to the linea semilunaris at L1 vertebral level in the subxiphoid region (150/150). At the L3 vertebral level in the mid-abdomen, only eight patients had the transversus abdominis muscle there (8/150, 5%). At the L5 vertebral level in the suprapubic region, no patient had the transversus abdominis muscle medial to the linea semilunaris. The mean thickness of the transversus abdominis muscle at the L1 level was 3.4 mm, and at the L3 level, it was 1.6 mm. There was no statistically significant difference in the transversus abdominis muscle thickness between the men and women; however, a significant difference was found between the nulliparous and multiparous women, with thinner TA muscle in later. CONCLUSION: There is good transversus abdominis muscle bulk medial to the linea semilunaris for doing transversus abdominis muscle division in the upper abdomen. However, as we move towards the mid-abdomen, we have TA aponeurosis or rarely TA muscle of little bulk.

Risk factors influencing postoperative outcome in patients with perforated peptic ulcer: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Perforated peptic ulcer (PPU) has been associated with substantially high incidence of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to analyze the factors affecting the outcome of patients having perforated peptic ulcer undergoing surgical intervention. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of 112 patients with PPU who underwent emergency laparotomy between December 2014 and November 2016 were prospectively analyzed. Primary suture of the perforation and pedicled omentoplasty was done in all the patients. Data regarding patients was collected and correlated with the postoperative outcome. RESULTS: The overall postoperative morbidity and mortality were 62.5% and 30.4%, respectively. On univariate analysis advanced age (≥ 60 years) [(p = 0.005), (OR = 3.6), (95% CI = 1.5-8.8)], pre-operative shock [(p < 0.001), (OR = 7.4), (95% CI = 2.6-21.0)], delayed presentation (> 24 h) [(p = 0.007), (OR = 4.0), (95% CI = 1.5-11.2)] and raised serum creatinine [(p < 0.001), (OR = 7.7), (95% CI = 3.1-19.0)] were found to be significantly associated with the post-operative morbidity. For mortality, advanced age (≥ 60 year) [(p < 0.001), (OR = 5.02), (95% CI = 2.1-11.9)], pre-operative shock [(p < 0.001), (OR = 19.3), (95% CI = 6.9-53.6)], comorbidity [(p = 0.03), (OR = 6.6), (95% CI = 1.2-35.7)] and raised serum creatinine [(p < 0.001), (OR = 13.1), (95% CI = 4.5-37.8)] were statistically significant factors. Multivariate analysis showed advanced age (≥ 60 years) (p = 0.05) and raised serum creatinine (p = 0.004) as significant factors for increased risk of post-operative morbidity. Advanced age (≥ 60 years), pre-operative shock and raised serum creatinine were found to be independent risk factors influencing post-operative mortality (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: A thorough clinical evaluation, adequate resuscitation, sepsis control, addressing comorbidities and early access to hospital can reduce the risk morbidity and mortality in patients with PPU.

Conventional Laparoscopic Appendectomy Versus Single-Port Laparoscopic Appendectomy, a Multicenter Randomized Control Trial: A Feasible and Safe Alternative to Standard Laparoscopy.

Background: Acute appendicitis represents one of the main causes of surgical emergencies. It can be approached as open appendectomy or laparoscopic appendectomy (LA). LA uses different modalities, such as conventional laparoscopic appendectomy (CLA) or single-port laparoscopic appendectomy (SPLA). The aim of this work is to compare the results of CLA versus SPLA in patients diagnosed with Acute Appendicitis. Materials and Methods: A comparative multicenter prospective study of patients undergoing LA with a clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis was presented. They were divided into two groups (CLA group and SPLA group). Results: A total of n = 147 patients were included (72 CLA and 75 SPLA). Preoperative and intraoperative times were shorter for patients undergoing CLA (P = .002; P = .068). Postoperative and reinsertion time was lower for SPLA (P = .000; P = .0004). There were no differences in postoperative complications. The type of approach showed statistically significant differences with respect to pain within the first 12 hours of the postoperative period, as well as at discharge, while no differences were observed in relation to cosmetic satisfaction when the two approaches were compared. Conclusion: SPLA technique presented less intraoperative time, shorter time of labor reinsertion, and less postoperative pain. There were no statistically significant differences in postoperative complications.

Ten-Year Experience of Managing Giant Duodenal Ulcer Perforations with Triple Tube Ostomy at Tertiary Hospital of North India.

Duodenal ulcer perforations have been known since 1600 AD. It is a common surgical emergency and every surgeon will encounter it. The perforation size of >2 cm has been used as the criteria for defining Giant duodenal ulcers. The management of giant duodenal perforations in hemodynamically unstable patient with comorbid condition is taxing because of high incidence of the postoperative leak and mortality. We have used the simple technique of Triple Tube Ostomy after the primary closure of the defect with encouraging results. It is a retrospective study done at the J. N medical college AMU Aligarh from May 2005 to May 2015. Hemodynamically unstable patients who have presented to the emergency with preoperative diagnoses of giant duodenal ulcer perforation and had undergone triple tube ostomy with primary repair of the perforation were included in the study. There were 34 patients of giant duodenal perforation who presented in shock. All of them underwent triple-tube-ostomy after primary repair of the duodenum. Thirty-two patients recovered with two mortalities (5.8 %). Several definite surgical techniques have been described for the management of giant duodenal ulcer perforation but they are complex, have very high morbidity and mortality rate and require an expert surgeon. A close retrospective scrutiny of the patients suggests that simple triple-tube-ostomy technique which is based on the principle of damage control surgery has good postoperative results Therefore, we recommend it as the procedure of choice in these patients.

Incidentally discovered goblet cell carcinoid clinically presenting as acute intestinal obstruction: a case report with review of literature.

Goblet cell carcinoid (GCC) is a rare variant of carcinoid tumor that exclusively involves the appendix. It usually occurs in 5th-6th decade with the most common clinical presentation being acute appendicitis. The natural history of this tumor is intermediate between carcinoids and adenocarcinomas. We here report a case of GCC diagnosed incidentally in a patient presenting with acute intestinal obstruction. Ultrasonographic examination supported the clinical diagnosis of acute intestinal obstruction, following which the patient underwent laparotomy and resection of ileum along with appendix was done. On gross pathological examination, a nodular growth was present on the tip and body of appendix that was yellow in color with a semi-solid to mucoid consistency on cut section. On microscopy, lakes of mucin with few acinar structures floating in them were seen. The submucosa as well as serosa were infiltrated by clusters of goblet cells and well-formed acini, with little atypia. Glands and nests were positive for periodic acid Schiff and immunohistochemistry showed focal chromogranin positivity in glandular structures, thereby confirming the diagnosis of GCC. Although the prognosis of GCC is better than adenocarcinomas, it is one of the carcinoids having a poorer outcome when compared with other variants of carcinoid tumor. Therefore, it is important to rule out other differential diagnoses of goblet cell carcinoid, the most important being mucinous adenocarcinomas.

Clinico-radiological and pathological evaluation of extra testicular scrotal lesions.

BACKGROUND: Scrotal ultrasound, though reliable in distinguishing between intratesticular and extratesticular lesions and characterizing them as cystic and solid, cannot distinguish benign from malignant pathology. Although fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) has proved to be of great diagnostic importance in testicular lesions, its scope in extratesticular lesions is largely unexplored. AIM: To evaluate extratesticular scrotal lesions cytologically and compare it with their clinical, radiological, and histological findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty five patients with extratesticular scrotal lesions were assessed clinically, radiologically, and cytologically. Histopathology was done in 45 cases where surgical exploration was undertaken. All the data were then analyzed and correlated. RESULTS: Extratesticular lesions accounted for 72.2% of the scrotal swellings. Of these, the epididymis is most commonly involved (61.5% cases) with the commonest type of lesion being cystic (49.3% cases). Ultrasonography preferably with color doppler is highly useful for the evaluation of the scrotum. Apart from distinguishing extratesticular from testicular and cystic from solid lesions, it has an important role in identifying individual lesions, thus reducing the list of differential diagnosis. Fine needle aspiration cytology contributed to a definitive diagnosis in 47.7% cases. It helps classify cystic masses on the basis of their contents and defines the etiology of chronic inflammatory lesions, apart from corroborating with the clinico-radiological diagnosis. Histological evaluation was possible only in cases where surgery was performed and helps further define the diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Fine needle aspiration cytology is essentially non-traumatic and easy to carry out and should be a technique of choice for the study of scrotal pathology, main advantage being avoidance of delays in diagnosis.

Clinical examination vs. MRI: evaluation of diagnostic accuracy in detecting ACL and meniscal injuries in comparison to arthroscopy.

BACKGROUND: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of clinical examination and MRI in evaluation of meniscal and ACL injuries using arthroscopic findings as reference standard. MATERIAL/METHODS: A total of 51 patients with traumatic knee injuries were identified and prospectively followed up with clinical examination, MRI and arthroscopy. Clinical examination and MRI findings were compared with arthroscopic findings. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and diagnostic accuracy were calculated with statistical analysis. RESULTS: Out of 24 patients with arthroscopic evidence of medial meniscal injury, clinical examination and MRI correctly identified 20 and 18 patients, respectively. Clinical examination was characterized by better sensitivity and specificity with regard to diagnosis of medial meniscal tear. On arthroscopy, lateral meniscal tear was present in 13 patients; clinical examination and MRI both identified 8 of them correctly. Similarly, out of 9 patients with arthroscopic evidence of ACL tear, clinical examination and MRI correctly identified 7 and 8 patients, respectively. There were only marginal differences in sensitivity and specificity of clinical examination and MRI in diagnosis of lateral meniscal and ACL injury. CONCLUSIONS: Careful clinical examination is much better than MRI with regard to the diagnosis of medial meniscus injury and is as reliable as MRI with regard to diagnosis of lateral meniscus injury and ACL tears. MRI should be used to rule out such injuries rather than to diagnose them.

Painless left hemorrhagic pleural effusion: an unusual presentation of leaking saccular aortic arch aneurysm.

Most thoracic aortic aneurysms are asymptomatic and are detected by chance on routine chest imaging for some other reasons. Only rarely it is symptomatic due to leak and dissection which is a potentially life threatening event that commonly presents with severe pain. In this report, we present the case of a 67-year-old man who presented with shortness of breath, intermittent cough, fever, and left sided painless hemorrhagic pleural effusion. Further investigation by plain radiography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a saccular aneurysm arising from the lateral aspect of the mid-transverse arch of the aorta, along with a dissecting descending aortic aneurysm with false lumen communicating with left pleural space. The patient refused any surgical procedure and was treated conservatively with blood transfusions and anti hypertensive medication. On the 8th day patient finally succumb to a fatal episode of shock. We suggest dissecting thoracic aneurysm be included in the differential diagnosis of non-traumatic hemorrhagic pleural effusion in an elderly patient presenting with dysnea, cough and fever, which otherwise suggest the clinical diagnosis of bronchogenic carcinoma. Computed tomography of the chest should be immediately performed as the diagnostic procedure of choice.

Isolated pontine tuberculoma presenting as "fou rire prodromique".

The authors present the case of a young child with "fou rire prodromique" as an initial manifestation of pontine tuberculoma. This report is the first description of fou rire prodromique as the presenting sign of CNS tuberculosis. The combination of clinical information and CT findings allowed for precise localization of the lesion and suggested tuberculoma as the possible etiology.

Persistent port-site sinus in a patient after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: watch out for gallbladder tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: The gallbladder is rarely affected by mycobacterium tuberculosis. The diagnosis of gallbladder tuberculosis is often not suspected prior to surgery or biopsy. METHOD: A young female patient underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy but presented with a persistently discharging sinus from the port site. RESULTS: The gallbladder biopsy revealed granulomas typical of chronic granulomatous tuberculosis. The condition of the patient was improved by antitubercular treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Presentation of gallbladder tuberculosis as a persistent discharging sinus at the port site in a patient who has undergone a laparoscopic cholecystectomy is extremely rare. The diagnosis was reached by histopathology only. The rarity of the presentation prompted us to report the case.

Role of color Doppler ultrasonography in evaluation of scrotal swellings: pattern of disease in 120 patients with review of literature.

PURPOSE: To determine the value of color Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) as a routine investigational method for diagnosis of scrotal pathologies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective observational study (case series) was carried out over a period of 16 months on 122 patients in the age range of 13 to 70 years old, who presented with scrotal swellings. After adequate history taking and examination, CDUS was performed. The diagnosis of the surgeon and that of radiologist were compared with final outcome, which was based on course and outcome of the disease, fine needle aspiration cytology results, and operative findings. RESULTS: The final diagnoses were epididymitis or epididymo-orchitis (46), hydrocele (26), varicocele (16), testicular malignancy (16), orchitis (6), testicular torsion (4), spermatic cord injury (2), hematocele (2), and pyocele (2). Color Doppler ultrasonography accurately diagnosed all cases of epididymitis or epididymo-orchitis, spermatic cord injury, testicular torsion, varicocele, and hydrocele (sensitivity 100% and specificity 100%). Of 16 subjects diagnosed as testicular malignancy on CDUS, only 14 were subsequently found to have malignancy. Two cases of orchitis were wrongly diagnosed as malignancy. Similarly, of 6 patients diagnosed as orchitis, 1 was found to have seminoma (sensitivity 87.5% and specificity 66.7%). Overall sensitivity of CDUS in diagnosing scrotal diseases was 98% while specificity was 66.7%. CONCLUSION: Color Doppler ultrasonography is an excellent, a safe, and reliable method for evaluating patients with scrotal diseases. It aids in diagnosis of testicular tumors and reduces the number of unnecessary exploratory operations. It is especially important in conditions like testicular torsion where immediate diagnosis is required.

Atypical multifocal hydatid disease of cranial vault: simultaneous orbital and extradural meningeal involvement.

Hydatid disease is endemic in regions where livestock is raised. Liver and lungs are the most commonly affected organs by the disease. Cranial vault and orbital hydatid disease is extremely rare. Signs and symptoms along with serological investigation are often inconclusive in cranial hydatid, making radiological diagnosis extremely important. Surgical removal of the cyst is the mainstay of treatment. Postoperative medical therapy, along with regular follow-up, is the key to detect any recurrence. We report an unusual case of cranial hydatid which showed diffuse scalp infiltration along with orbital and extradural extension.